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Council Begins Process to Regulate Short-Term Rentals in Tulsa

Matt Trotter
/
KWGS

Two city councilors have introduced the first piece of their plan to deal with short-term rentals like Airbnb in Tulsa.

A zoning code amendment would add them as a lodging type, eliminating the need for owners to pursue a special exception before legally operating as a bed and breakfast. Councilor Blake Ewing said the next part of his and Councilor Ben Kimbro's plan will tackle how those properties will register with the city.

"Which would look something like, if you want to operate one of these things, you fill out an application at the city or your register, so to speak, pay a fee, and that fee would cover the cost of whatever enforcement would be applied to the project," Ewing said.

But it won’t involve things some neighbors of short-term rentals have complained about.

"Our existing city ordinances address things already that cause nuisance. Making noise late at night and having parties at the house and all that kind of stuff, we believe that those things are already addressed," Ewing said.

Kimbro said rental websites police problem users pretty well through ratings.

"As well, they’ve got your credit card. So, damages to those properties, damages associated with that property to neighbors’ houses, there’s a way to get money out of the offending guest," Kimbro said.

The zoning code amendment does say events like weddings, receptions and private parties are not permitted with short-term rental use. It also limits short-term rentals to one dwelling unit per lot.

Matt Trotter joined KWGS as a reporter in 2013. Before coming to Public Radio Tulsa, he was the investigative producer at KJRH. His freelance work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times and on MSNBC and CNN.